Addicted to producing web content since early 2001, I've blogged across several platforms and have written professionally for varied publications, including True/Slant, where I had a regular music column. Whether my blogs or columns were mostly about politics, current events or pop culture, the constant thread that ran through them was music. Even when writing about controversial or divisive topics, a simple piece where music is the focus always produced a commonality that could bring people together.
My first memory is of dancing to the Moody Blues' "Go Now" when I was three years old. Since then, almost every memory I have is tied to a song. I hope to bring that personal relationship with music to these pages, to take you along on my journey where I sift through genres and styles, through albums and song and introduce you to new sounds and find ways to make you rethink what you've already heard.

In Defense of Pop Music and "Guilty" Pleasures

It started some time in the late 60s with a 45rpm cardboard record cut from a cereal box. It was The Archies’ “Let Everyone Get Together.” No one would let me play this paper record on their expensive stereos so I played it on my Fisher Price record player, something I thought of as useful for only playing novelty songs. So this was perfect. However, when I played the song, it felt like anything but a novelty. There was something about this song – even if it was by a fake band – that felt so real, so good. And my love of pop music was born.

Timothy Rosenberg, Course Director of Critical Listening for Music Professionals at Full Sail University, says pop music is “a sub-genre of commercial music that is characterized by catchy melodies, attractive singers, and non-challenging background music.”

That’s what makes it so attractive; the hooks combined with the simplicity reel us in when we want nothing more than to feel good. Four minute, verse-chorus-verse songs hold a joyful place in our hearts. There is something infinitely positive and upbeat about pop music, even when the lyrics bely that feeling. Whether it be top 40 pop (Hanson), rock pop (Matchbox 20) synthpop (M83) or pop punk (Jimmy Eat World), there’s that underlying sense that everything can be made better with a song.

There’s a Mountain Goats song, “Dance Music,” in which John Darnielle sings:

i’m in the living roomwatching the watergate hearingswhile my stepfather yells at my motherlaunches a glass across the roomstraight at her headand i dash upstairs to take coverlean in close to my little record player on the floorso this is what the volume knob’s fori listen to dance musicdance music

That pop music, even in its saddest form, makes you want to get up and dance speaks volumes about it.

Why, as genre after genre rise and fall from the charts, does pop music remain a constant in the top 40?

“People are attracted to pop music because of it’s short-lived nature,” says Rosenberg. It’s music that people wear around for a little while, and change out for the seasons. It’s generally not challenging to listen to, given its overall consonance, regular rhythm, and wide-sweeping lyrical content. The music is easy to get into, and it’s just as easy to get out of it. That’s why, in my opinion, you see such high sales in this genre.”

Pop music is escapism. It’s comic books, action movies, it’s baseball games. It’s a way to remove yourself from whatever ails you, something that makes you want to get up and dance when the world is bringing you down.

Even though I grew up on metal, punk and hard rock and the majority of my listening to this day takes place within those genres, I still keep a heavy dose of pop music in rotation. There’s the old stalwarts ranging from the Archies to NSYNC, and the newer class of pop mavens and divas like Robyn, Ke$ha, Ne-Yo and yea, even Carly Rae Jepsen. Maybe between all the Slayer and MDC there’s a teenage girl dying to be let out once in a while.

How can you listen to “Mmmbop,” arguably the greatest pop song of all time, and not feel even a small sense elation? What about Badfinger’s “Day After Day” or Backstreet Boys’ “I Want it That Way” or The Monkees’ “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” all songs that should have humming along, dancing along or doing your best to pretend you don’t like it?

And we know you do that. That’s why there’s the phrase guilty pleasures; those songs you sing when no one is looking, the tunes you love that you let no one know about. Maybe you go as far as changing the name of the song before you put it on your iPod so your nosy coworker will never know that I Will Eat Your Soul is really All Out of Love by Air Supply.

I don’t like the phrase guilty pleasure. It implies that you should feel guilty, shamed or embarrassed for liking something that brings you joy. No song that gives you pleasure should also give you a sense of guilt. Own what you like, revel in it. If it makes you feel good – and pop hits should make you feel good – don’t let that be a burden to you. You should embrace the pleasures afforded you by listening to Rhianna’s “Umbrella” or Madonana’s “Ray of Light” rather than hiding behind your heavy metal cred and pretending those songs don’t make you smile. Personally, I don’t feel any guilt about the Ace of Base or Kelly Clarkson tracks on my iPod because I like them. They make me smile. They make me dance. Britney Spears, LMFAO, Nicki Minaj, anything from the disco era, The Jackson 5 and even some Beatles songs – my pop music collection spans years and crossover genres.

Pop music has always been and always will be an aural panacea for distressing times. It will lift you out of a funk. It will help you escape. Don’t deny it. Don’t feel guilty about it. Just put on “MMMbop” and enjoy the heck out of it.

Post Your Comment

Post Your Reply

Forbes writers have the ability to call out member comments they find particularly interesting. Called-out comments are highlighted across the Forbes network. You'll be notified if your comment is called out.